Take back Education.

We are 15 hours and 52 minutes from 2016.

Will this be the year we finally take back the education of our kids from the mindless sycophants seeking to advance their careers as politicians, Administrators and Labor activists or their fortunes, in the case of the Testing Companies, now driving the process? 

While I don't believe the answer to our education challenge in America is to turn the keys back over to the unions, this is a clarion call to citizens; it's time we take the education of our Kids back from private enterprise and public politicians--regardless of who they might be, who they work for, or their party affiliation.  Educators, working in partnership with their communities must be restored to their mission as educators.

Education has been hijacked and demagogued by Politicians, Private Enterprise, Management AND Labor; they have all forgotten who matters--KIDS, and what's at stake--THE FUTURE OF THE NATION.

Follow this link to a blog, "How Democracy Ends" that passionately, eloquently calls us back from the edge.  

http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2013/01/this-is-how-democracy-ends-apology-from.html


bN tGit

A Beautiful Mind.

Just over a year ago we said our farewells to Laura's dad as he passed into the presence of God, whom he loved and served since embracing Christ as a boy in Washington, Illinois. Gene was such a giant of a man.  Perhaps the most difficult sojourn Laura and I have made over our 43 year marriage was watching Gene "lose himself" to dementia over the last 5 years of his life. 
 
This "passage" moved me to learn more about the brain, how it functions, and why; more about the relationship of the material, the organ we call our brain, and the immaterial--our minds.  I offer this comment with great conviction: the cause/effect relationship between the way we think and the outcomes we achieve is immutable, can be scientifically documented and is the result of loving-intelliegent design. 
 
A "mind," even a poorly developed one, is a powerful force. God blessed us all with beautiful minds; having been fashioned in His image gives us access to resources beyond the natural, built right into our DNA. 

Our minds are, of course, the most unique aspect of our beings. So, what are you doing with yours? It's the first day of the rest of our lives, December 29, 2015, a wonderful portal from which to look back at what was, then gaze into the new year at what might be.
 
Here's a perpetual list I believe can keep our "life-compass" oriented, True North.  Quite frankly, much of the time this is a three-steps-forward-two-steps-back process; carry on--ONE step at a time IS progress!

For a better 2016 (and long-term, a more productive life)... 

• Go to and get out of bed earlier. Be active, body and mind, with the extra morning time.

• Give up painful thinking. Don't throw others "under the bus." Refuse to think like a victim. Seek balance in your life.
• Look for the best in people. Find ways to add value to other peoples lives.
• Give generously to a cause you feel great passion for. Volunteer and serve in some fashion, some place.
• Don't be a cynic. Refuse to associate with negative people.
• Spend time in dialogue with people who don't think like you. Make the effort to grow your intellect and expand your perspective.
• Transform obstacles into opportunities. Begin something that makes you feel challenged.
• Mentor someone younger and/or less experienced. Find someone to mentor you, then be accountable to that person.
• Read, or listen to, good books that make you feel enriched. Journal: keep it simple and short; then watch that discipline begin to expand.

Finally, and most significantly... 

"Love justice, do mercy and walk humbly with your God." Micah 6.8

For me, it starts by asking God (again) to empower me to resolve and retool the way I think and as result, the way I experience life...

"Father in heaven give me clarity to know myself... give me desire to reflect Christ... give me discipline to lean into You... give me focus to remain on task... give me wisdom to make 'best decisions' and think like You. Through Christ, let it be."
 
May this be your most beautiful year yet.



bN tGit

What's in a day?

Each year, on December 28, I pause and reflect.

The years go by like stones under rushing water and it's easy to forget what life was like 47 years ago; what life could have been like, had God not intervened that evening in 1968. It was the last Saturday night of the year; I had a plan, and it certainly did not include an up close conversation with God. But, He had a different plan...and, as it turns out, it changed my life--forever.

But the path to that evening in 1968 started many years before, when my Grandmother, who lived with us at the time, would gather me up and carry me off to Church and Sunday School--I still have my first Bible, the one mom gave me to take to church with Grandma. I didn't know, until I was a young adult, that my grandmother faithfully prayed for me each day--that "BJ would experience the power of Christ in his life and embrace Jesus as his Lord and Savior." She eventually moved back to her roots in Fort Scott Kansas. But I continued to get myself to church until 8th grade.

I don't recall why I decided to "drop out" but I'm sure it just didn't feel very "cool" to attend church and Sunday School any longer--and since I went by myself, it was my decision to make. Fast forward to the fall of my Junior year in High School. One evening I landed at a "Campus Life" meeting at the home of a classmate (Jim Rehnberg); it was the kickoff for the school year and as advertised, it was a "Burger Bash," all you could eat--and attracted a huge crowd of students. I got more that evening than a big meal. The Campus Life leader, Mark Zier, gave a short talk to close the event and he asked the crowd..."If you died tonight, do you know where you're going?" I didn't; it bothered me, then I moved on.

On the evening of December 28, 1968 I was set to attend an "After Christmas" party with some buddies (Jerry McClain was driving). Our "wires got crossed" (coincidence?) and they never showed up; stuck, I recalled something was happening at the Rec-center with Campus Life that night--they called it a "Campus Life Rally." There was a girl I had some interest in (Colleen Rehnberg) and I knew she would probably be there (I was right); I managed to catch Mark (Zier) before he'd left his house. He was delighted when I called, and he swung by and picked me up. An evening of activities, music and then a guy, Roger Cross, got up and challenged me again about my life and death. This time I was ready and wanted to get this question resolved; Mark talked with me and then invited me to pray a short, simple prayer to embrace Jesus as Messiah, and the rest...is history.

Three weeks later I went to the Ventura "Rally." Mark asked me to share about my recent conversion experience with that half of the county I grew up in. Mark mentioned a girl he thought I'd really like, a cute Sophomore at Buena High School named Laura--he wanted to introduce us; he was right. In that span of three weeks I'd had two introductions that literally changed the direction and the outcome of my life: I'd trusted Christ and met my future wife--we married 3 years, 48 weeks and 6 days later.

My home was a rather complicated place (aren't most). Lot's of love and pain. I was carrying some emotional baggage by that time and was making some bad choices. Christ changed all that in an instant. The baggage was there--in fact it didn't get fully "unpacked" for years. But His presence in my life set me in a "best direction" that just never wavered. Laura's family embraced me as a "son" as our relationship grew; they, especially her dad (my dad died suddenly in 1970), filled a great need in my life.

In the 80's there was a popular gospel song written by Bill Gaither that describes my story, I get choked up every time I sing it; the chorus declares..."Something beautiful, something good; all my confusion He understood, all I had to offer him was brokenness and strife, but He made something, beautiful, out of my life."

December, 28, 1968. What a difference a day makes.

bN tGit

Yes. Black lives matter.

As the year comes to a conclusion, I am reminded of Lincoln's words, from his 2nd Inaugural Address, spoken to a nation torn apart, divided and at war with itself.  Those were difficult days.

Distress continues to divide us. As we wage an un-civil war of words--and worse--over civil rights, let us never forget that because this Nation lacked the moral courage, the humanity, to end slavery--we paid with the blood of 620,000 lives lost, an economy that took two generations to rebuild and a Nation adrift.  Make no mistake: Black lives matter. 

On that day as the Civil War raged Lincoln said...

"... Fondly do we hope--fervently do we pray--that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said 'the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether.'

With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan--to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations."

With malice toward none; with charity for all...let us strive to finish the work...A lasting peace, among ourselves and with all Nations.  God bless America. 

 

bN tGit

Simple.

God's love is simple.  The Word became flesh.

"When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners...God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us..."  Romans 5.6,8

Christmas is joyous because God's love never fails.  He rescued humankind.  WE are the reason for the season.  Thanks be to God!


To all our friends, family and those who stumble into this blog posting, Merry Xristos and best wishes for a prosperous New Year.  

bN tGit

Goof Proof.

The Incarnation of Christ serves as a glorious reminder that God’s willingness to clean things up is infinitely bigger than our ability to mess things up.

"God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.²¹So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  Romans 5.20-23 NLT

Right standing.  Eternal life.  Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Emanuel.   Let it be.  

bN tGit

Metrics Matter.

This from the closing "reveal" scene in The Delivery Man... 

"I'm a meat truck driver.  I'm an incompetent meat truck driver."  To which his father replies "You ARE an incompetent delivery man.  It takes you four times longer to deliver the meat than any other driver.  But, every where you go, they love you."

So how do you measure success?  Metrics matter.



bN tGit

Bill of Rights: A good call.

During the battle to ratify the US Constitution, many Americans worried that the founding document failed to list specific rights to be protected against government's tendency to abuse power. Thomas Jefferson gave voice to their concerns in a letter to James Madison: "A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth...and what no just government should refuse."  

Reluctant at first, Federalists agreed to add amendments protecting personal liberties. Madison along with several others, crafted a set of 10 Amendments, a "Bill of Rights," which were ratified December 15, 1781--114 years ago, today.  These of course, constitute the first 10 Amendments to our Constitution.

These are historic days. Regardless of what the future holds, the strength of our Nation is demonstrated by the civility of our process.  I pray the extremists on both sides of the isle, and their Citizen Groups, will take a breath and stop talking.

I am proud to be a citizen. God bless America.  

Merry Xristos.  

bN tGit

Truth is.

Truth is to living what physics is to life.

We can't "see, smell or hear" the laws of physics, but without them, nothing works; that which we do see, smell and hear is the result of these laws being applied with purpose or spontaneously.

In the same way truth is the rail living rides on. Ethics, the rule of law, cultural norms, relationships, parenting, good government, freedom--to name but a few aspects of living--all work based on a set of core values, derived from the common grace of God, who wired humankind with an intrinsic sense of what truth is and an understanding of what's "right."

Truth, like physics, does not function in a deterministic way. I can ingore Newton's Law of Gravity and embrace a belief that I can float, then step of top of a tall building. Newton's Law does not override my choice. But my choice to embrace and believe I can float will not prevent a very bad outcome.

One can choose to believe that truth is relative, subject to change, given to multiple definitions or simply an outdated cultural moray. People, and cultures, can choose to ignore the truth, or worse, be deceived and believe a lie--at great peril. The result/reality of these choices is sobering. Living spirals out of control. Chaos trumps the rule of law, justice becomes a myth, bondage becomes the norm and brokeness the face of a nation.

Life does not work without physics.  Living does not work without truth. 

"...And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  John 8.32

bN tGit

Run hard. Finish well.

Several years ago I decided it was time to fix my shoulder--torn rotator cuff, labrum and a large calcium deposit on my bursa.  I'd postponed the inevitable surgery for 42 years. Two months after the repair I began my rehab process.  I am intrigued by how fast our joints "freeze up" and muscles atrophe when we don't use them. As I strained to lift my arm above my shoulder, I could only move it half that distance; no matter how hard I tried--I could not "will" it up. Getting my "shoulder back" took discipline and hard work.

Life is like that too. When we live careless, reckless, aimless lives, we miss the best life has to offer. People are filled with potential; we are "wired" for growth, relationships, productivity and yes, achievement. Realizing these possibilities brings shape to life, purpose for living; talent and apptitude must be transformed into ability by disciplined effort. "Willing" it won't make it happen. Success and failure are two sides of the same coin and people tend to get what they expect. Our expectations tend to dictate our effort; dicipline tends to dictate our success. Successful people do the things unsuccessful people aren't willing to do; the door to success isn't hard to see, but it demands much of those who choose to pass through it.
But, what about "life" after death?  People of faith believe that we've been created with eternity in our hearts. The Scriptures tell us that...

"When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners...God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us."  Rom 5.6,8 NLT

We embrace this gracious provision by trusting Christ as our Lord and Savior. But this kind of effective faith doesn't just kick back and "let it happen." Saving faith points us to "a long obedience in the same direction." Life becomes the canvas where we see worked out, what God has worked in.  Embracing Christ opens a door to a whole new perception of who and Whose we are.

Spiritual strength and godly character are the by-products of disciplined effort and purposeful living. The apostle Paul understood this...

"Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." 1 Cor 9.24-27 NLT

Good outcomes don't just happen.  Life and eternity demand our very best and our very best, once we have embraced Christ and His work through effective faith, is always more than enough.


bN tGit